History of Powys

medieval kingdom in mid-Wales

defensive earthworks on the border between Anglian (or 'English') Mercia and the Kingdom of Wales

The Silures ( or ) were a powerful and warlike tribe or tribal confederation of ancient Britain, occupying what is now south-east Wales and perhaps some adjoining areas. They were bordered to the north by the Ordovices, to the east by the Dobunni, and to the west by the Demetae.

right|thumb|300px|Tribes of Wales at the time of the Roman invasion. The modern Anglo-Welsh border is also shown, for reference purposes. The Ordovices (from ; Common Brittonic: *Ordowīces) were one of the Celtic tribes living in Great Britain before the Roman invasion. Their tribal lands were located in present-day North Wales and England, between the Silures to the south and the Deceangli to the north-east. Unlike the latter tribes that appear to have acquiesced to Roman rule with little resistance, the Ordovices fiercely resisted the Romans. They were eventually subjugated by the Roman gove

thumb|Map of the district of Powys Radnorshire () was one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolition in 1974, later becoming a district of Powys from 1974 to 1996. It covered a sparsely populated area, and was bounded to the north by Montgomeryshire and Shropshire, to the east by Herefordshire, to the south by Brecknockshire and to the west by Cardiganshire.

Northern realm of Powys

Welsh kingdom (1160–1283)

thumb|250px|right|Post-Roman Welsh kingdoms or tribes. The modern border between Wales and England is shown in purple. Pengwern was a Brythonic settlement of sub-Roman Britain situated in what is now the English county of Shropshire, adjoining the modern Welsh border. It is regarded as possibly being the early seat of the kings of Powys before its establishment at Mathrafal, further west, but the theory that it was an early kingdom (or a sub-kingdom of Powys itself) has also been postulated. Its precise location is uncertain.

thumb|Shrine of St Melangell Melangell (), ) was a Welsh hermit and abbess. She possibly lived in the 7th or 8th century, although the precise dates are uncertain. According to her hagiography, she was originally an Irish princess who fled an arranged marriage and became a consecrated virgin in the wilderness of the Kingdom of Powys. She supernaturally protected a hare from a prince's hunting dogs, and was granted land to found a sanctuary and convent.

1402 battle in Wales

thumb|right|300px|Map of the Welsh cantrefs, showing the location of Buellt, in the middle thumb|right|300px|Buellt, 1797 Buellt or Builth was a cantref in medieval Wales, located west of the River Wye. Unlike most cantrefs, it was not part of any of the major Welsh kingdoms for most of its history, but was instead ruled by an autonomous local dynasty. During the Norman era it was associated with Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, a region independent of the Welsh monarchies and controlled by Norman Marcher Lords. In the 16th century, it was reorganized as a hundred and joined with the former kingdom of Bryc

narrow gauge tourist railway on the south side of the Brecon Beacons

Mathrafal near Welshpool, in Powys, Mid Wales, was the seat of the Kings and Princes of Powys probably from the 9th century until its destruction in 1213 by Prince Llywelyn the Great.

Welsh saint

network of canals in South Wales

Llandyssil () is a village in the community of Abermule with Llandyssil, in Powys, Wales, in the traditional county of Montgomeryshire. It is about two miles from the town of Montgomery.

boundary between England and Wales

motte-and-bailey castle in Oswestry Civil Parish, Shropshire, England, UK

thumb|right|250px|Map of the lands west of Offa's Dyke; Gwrtheyrnion can be seen in the centre

Maelienydd, sometimes spelt Maeliennydd, was a cantref and lordship in east central Wales covering the area from the River Teme to Radnor Forest and the area around Llandrindod Wells. The area, which is mainly upland, is now in Powys. During the Middle Ages it was part of the region known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren () and its administrative centre was at Cefnllys Castle.

standing stone in the Brecon Beacons in Wales

battle in 1295 during the revolt against English rule